Mechanism for holding trolleys to their wires



No. 6l3,744. Patented Nov. 8, I898.

W. R. WEAVER.

MECHANISM FOR HOLDING TROLLEYS TO THEIR WIRES.

(Application filed Oct. 9, 1897.,

(No Model.)

- IJIIJIEH TUB MTHEESEE H ahaw NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM R. W'EAVER, OF (JOVINGTON, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- THIRDS TO GEORGE L. WEAVER AND HARRY D. WEAVER, OF SAME PLACE, AND JAMES 0. BROWN, OF FRANKLIN, OHIO.

MECHANISM FOR HOLDING TROLLEYS TO THEIR WIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,744, dated November 8, 1898.

Application filed October 9, 1897. Serial No. 654,618. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM R; WEAVER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Covington, in the county of Kenton and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Mechanism for Holding Trolleys to Their Wires, of which the following is a specification.

The several features of my invention and the various advantages resulting from their use conjointly or otherwise will be apparent from the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings, making a part of this application, and in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts Figure l is a perspective view of mechanism illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of this mechanism. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of the same, that part of the swinging frame and that one of the supporting arms which is nearest the spectator having been broken away to reveal the parts which it would exclude from view. Fig. 4: is a view similar to that of Fig. 2, with the exception that one of the holding-arms is depressed while the other is elevated. Fig. 5 represents a horizontal section of the mechanism, the section being taken in the plane of the dotted line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 represents a plan view of the mechanism and shows the holders opened-21 6., apart. Fig. 7 represents a detail of the top of the holder, representing a modification of the form of the same.

A A indicate the usual arms, joined at bottom and forming the well-known fork A of the trolley. This fork is united at its lower end to a sleeve or ferrule A employed to connect the fork to the trolley-pole B.

0 indicates the axle or pivot-rod, supported at each side by the respective arms A A On this pivot O and between the arms the usual trolley-Wheel D rotates. This wheel has the usual peripheral groove D for receiving the stationary wire E of the electric circuit, from which the vehicle-motor receives, via the trolley, the electrical force whereby it (the motor) is operated.

For the purpose of making certain connection between the trolley-wheel D and the fork A a suitable device or devices are to be employed; In the present instance such device consists of a metal washer F, located on the pivot-rod C and in close contact with wheel D, and a spring-plate G, whose upper end has an eye G encircling the pivot-rod and bearing against the washer F. The lower end of this plate is in contact with the metal of the adjacent arm A of the fork A and is there secured to the arm. In the illustrative device such a combination of washer and spring-plate is shown on each side of the trolley-wheel. Such an arrangement is preferable to one washer and spring-plate,because the wheel receiving equal pressure at both sides runs more equally and tends to keep in a central position between the forks A A instead of bearing toward one side, as would be the case were the arrangement not thus symmetrical. Thus certain electrical connection is made between the wire E and the trolley-wheel in contact therewith and the fork A. The modes of placing this metallic fork A in electrical circuit with the motor are well known and need not be described here.

In applying my invention to the trolley I the holder forming the edges of theslot shall be in the peripheral groove C A convenient mode of mounting the wireholder J on the pivot-rod is by forming in the holder at the lower end of the slot an opening J 3 larger than the pivot-rod. This allows the latter, when the entire mechanism is erected, to be passed through the holdersviz. through their openings Li -at substantially the same time when it (the pivot) is passed through the' trolley-wheel and the spring-plates and washers and arms of the fork. The lower end of the holder is a rod J which reciprocates as a part of the holder through a suitable guide and stop piece, and to this end I provide the piece K forming a part of a frame K, whose side pieces K K are at their upper endspivoted on the pivot-rod C, outside of their respectively adjacent arms A Thus the frame K is a swinging one, oscillating on the pivot-rod C, and is free to respond to the attraction of gravitation, substantially as shown. Each rod is provided at its lower end with a stop J which prevents the rod after this stop has been inserted from rising above adesired height relatively to the pivotrod 0, and this height is such that the holder cannot rise so as to carry the sides of the slot J 2 away from and out of the groove of the pivot-rod and bring the rod into the large open ing J which would occur when the holder was moved upward were it not for the stop J I provide means for constantly and'automatically carrying each holder upward to its elevated position whenever the holder is not forcibly depressed. A preferred kind of such means consists of the spiral spring J", wound around the holder and compressed between a shoulder J 7 of the holder and the piece or part K of the frame. Thus when not forced down by extraneous pressure each rod will rise to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and shown in solid lines in Fig. 3 and occupied by the holder at the left hand in Fig. 4.

Means for drawing down the holders simultaneously are present, and preferably consist, as shown, of the piece J located beneath the frame K and provided with a hook or eye .1", to which is attached the rope or cap J employed by the conductor of the car to draw the trolley down and take the wheel D out of contactwith the wire E. The stops J 5 aforementioned of each holder are located below the piece J B and prevent the holder from slipping up through this piece J Thus when the piece J is drawn down upon by a pull upon the rope J the depression of the piece J operates to draw down the holders J J into the position substantially as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. After this is done and the springs J are compressed and refuse to further yield, then the spring which upholds the trolley-rod B and causes the wheel D to run against the wire E is caused to yield, and the trolley-pole and all that it carries is depressed and the wheel D is separated from the wire E. \Vhen the downward pull upon the piece J has ceased, the springs J 6 will cause their respective holders to rise and to return to their first-named.position. (Shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and by solid lines in Fig. 3.)

As the rod J 4 of each holder is slidable in and through the piece J except so far as restrained in an upward direction by the stop J 5 and in a downward direction by the spring J it follows that each holder can be depressed independently of its companion holder.

A depression of one of the holders while From this figure a reversal of the positions of the right and left hand holders from those shown in this figure will be readily understood without further mention.

Each holder has at its upper end an arm J, extending, when the trolley is in contact with its wire, in a direction substantially horizontal. The upper portion of the vertical part of the holder-say from about Xis bent at an angle in relation to the part below, and the arm J partakes of this inclination or bending of this upper part. This bending relates particularly to the position of the planes of those parts of the holder which enter and play back and forth in the groove J of the pivot-rod J. This bending or combination of the holder with the sides of the groove is such that when the holders are in their elevated position the outer or free ends of the arms J are in contact, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and in solid lines in Fig. 3, and such that when the holders are drawn down the free ends of these arms are separated and are wide apart, as shown in Fig. 6. When one of these holders is drawn or forced down without the other, the free end of its arm will move away from the central plane (passing through the middle of the periphery of the wheel D and transverse to the axis of the pivot-rod) and will extend out in a plane passing through the groove in which its holder slides and substantially at right angles to the axis of the pivot-rod. The under side of each of these arms is curved, as at J, and terminates at the extremity of its lower edge in a point J Preferably one of the arms is shorter than the other, so that its outer end fits against the other behind the free end of the other. The free end of the latter will then lie on the otherside of the plane through the center of the wheel transverse to the axis of the pivot-rod.

Having now described the construction of my invention, the operation thereof is substantially as follows: When the trolley is bein g allowed to gradually rise, the spring of the trolley-pole B in its effort, as usual, to raise the trolley causes the trolley to pull hard on the rope J The trolley-spring, after overcoming the weight of the trolley, is still stronger than the combined springs J 6 J 6 of the holders J and, as a consequence, the holders J J are drawn down and the arms J J A of the holders are everywhere widely separated, substantially as shown in Fig. In this position as the trolley rises the arms move upward. When the trolley-wheel D reaches the wire E and the latter reaches the bottom of the groove of the wheel D and the wheel rests against this wire, then the pressure of the spring of the trolley-pole B is borne by the wire E and the rope J is relieved of the pressure. In consequence, the springs J G J G are no longer subject to the power of the trolleypole spring, they having a surplus of energy in excess of that required to lift their holders the other remains up is shown in Fig. 4. i and the pieces J J and the rope J will force ICO the holders upward. As these holders rise their arms J J A will pass, the one on the one side and the other on the other side of the wire E, and rise into a plane above the latter, and as they continue to rise their free ends will approach one another and finally meet, substantially as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, as

aforementioned. The trolley is now in opera- 4 tion and the arms J A J A over the wire E prevent the trolley-wheel from leaving it. Should the trolley by any hump on the wire or connection of the latter be thrown down, the arms J will come in contact with the top side of the wire and prevent the wheel from dropping so far below the wire as that when it (the wheel) rises it will not properly engage the wire. In other words, the arms prevent the dropping so far that the wire E leaves the groove of the wheel. The construction of these arms and their arrangement and combination are such that it is well nigh impossible for the wire to run up between them, so as to separate them. The points J of each arm are very small and the wire consequently has very little hold on them. The tendency of the points and the curves J is to throw the wire into one of the curves and away from the points. Furthermore, as one arm, in fact, in the preferred construction crosses the vertical plane of the path of the wire the tendency of this arm is to keep the wire in its curve J which latter is usually immediately over it. Should any obstacle above the arms strike one or both, the one thus struck is free to be depressed by this obstacle. Upon passing the latter it will rise again automatically to its place without impinging in its downward or upward movement against the wire. When the conductor desires to disconnect the trolley from the wire, he draws upon the rope J The springs J J 6 first yield and the holders are drawn down, and as they descend they separate and pass below the wire E. The entire trolley next yields to the continued pull on the rope J and is drawn down and away from the wire E.

In passing hangers, crossings, switches, and the like the arms of the holders separate enoughto allow the same to pass, but do not separate enough to permit the wire to get above them, (the arms.) As soon as the arms have passed the hangers, &c. they come together again above the wire.

In Fig. 7 I illustrate a variation in the form of the upper portion of the holder-viz., in the contour of the portion where the arm J joins the vertical portion of the holder. Such variations do not alter the principle of my invention and obviously come within the scope of the latter.

What I claim as new and of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a trolley, having a wheel D and a pivot-rod O, and the holders each having an arm, and each provided with a slot, embracing the pivot-rod, and elastic mechanism and means for enabling the holders to cause the arms as they slide in one direction to come together over the Wire, or as they slide in a contrary direction to separate and release the wire, at the will of the operator, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The combination of a trolley, in which wheel D and a pivot-rod thereof are present, and the holders each having an arm, and each provided with a slot, the pivot-rod passing through this slot, and provided with an annular groove, in which those parts of the holder which constitute the edges of the slot move, and means for enabling the reciprocation of the holders relatively to the pivot-rod to cause the holders when moved in one direction to unite their arms above the conductor-wire, and when moved in the opposite direction to separate their arms and release the wire, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In a trolley, the combination of the wheel D, and the pivot-rod O, and holders having arms and slots, the pivot-rod passing through the said slots, the holders having at the slot a portion of their length bent at a different angle from the other portion, for enabling the holders when reciprocated in one direction relatively to the rod, to unite their arms above the conductor-wire, and when reciprocated in the other direction to separate their arms, and release the wire, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. In a trolley,the combination of the wheel, and a pivot-rod thereof, and the slotted holders having arms, and the pivot-rod being embraced by said slotted portion of the holders, and means combined with the holders for enabling the reciprocation of the holders in one direction to unite their arms and lock the conductor-wire to the wheel, and the reciprocation of them in the opposite direction to un- -lock the arms from the wire, and release it,

and springs for causing in connection with the means aforesaid the holders when allowed to rise and unite their arms over the wire, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. In a trolley,the combination of the wheel, and a pivot-rod thereof, and the slotted holders having arms, and the pivot-rod being embraced by said slotted portion of the holders, and means for enabling the reciprocation of the holders in onedirection to unite their arms and lock the conductor-wire to the wheel, and the reciprocation of them in the-opposite di rection to unlock the arms from the wire, and release it, and a suspended frame through which the lower parts of the holders move, and springs embracing their respective holders above the lower portion of the frame, and beneath a detent or shoulder of the arms, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. In a trolley,the combination of the wheel, and a pivot-rod, and the slotted holders and arms thereof, the pivot-rod passing through the slots of the holders, and the suspended frame and the piece J the lower parts of the holders slidable therethrough, and the stops J and the holder-rods, the piece J 8 having means whereby the trolley-rope can be attached thereto, springs on the holders, and means whereby the reciprocation of the holders operates to unite the arms over the conductor-wire, or to separate them and release the wire, according to the direction in which the arms are reciprocated, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

7. In atrolley,the combination ofthe wheel, and a pivot-rod, and the slotted holders and arms thereof, the pivot-rod passing through the slots of the holders, and the suspended frame and the piece J the lower parts of the holders slidable therethrough, and the stops J and the holder-rods, the piece J 8 having means whereby the trolley-rope can be attached thereto, springs on the holders, one portion of each holder at the slot being bent or curved to operate the holders to unite or separate their arms when reciprocated, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

8. In a trolley, the combination of the pole and its spring, the Wheel and its pivot-rod, and the fork uniting the latter to the pole, spring-plates from the fork, and washers for insuring electrical connection therewith, holders located on the respective sides of the wheel, and between the spring-plates and the adjacent sides of the fork, these holders having arms and slots, and curved at the slot, and the pivot-rod passing through each slot and having grooves, in which the holders at the slot run, and asuspended frame, the sides of the frame being pivoted to the pivot-rod, outside of the fork, thelowerends of the holders passing through the bottom part of the frame, and the piece below the frame for drawing down the holders, and the trolley-rope connected thereto, the holders passing down through this piece, and provided with stoppieces beneath, and the springs respectively embracing the holders, between the lower part of the frame, and detents on the holders, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

9. In a trolley, the wheel and pivot-rod, and holders, each having an arm provided at its free end with a point J, and a curve J at its lower edge, these points extending down below the horizontal plane of the immediate adjacent part of their respective arms and adapted to be in close conjunction when the arms are closed together, and means for cansing the holders to unite their arms above the conductor-wire, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

10. In a trolley, the wheel and holders, each having an arm provided at its free end with a point J and a curve J in its lower edge, these points extending down below the horizontal plane of the immediate adjacent part of their respective arms and adapted to be in close conjunction when the arms are closed together, and means for approximating the free ends of the holders, one of the arms being shorter than the other, for enabling the longer arm, when the arms are brought together, to cross the vertical plane of their junction, and the better prevent the con doctor-wire from separating them, substalv tially as and for the purposes specified.

11. In a trolley, the wheel and pivot-rod, and holders, each having an arm provided at its free end with a point J these points extending down below the horizontal plane of the immediate adjacent part of their respective arms and adapted to be in close conjunction when the arms are closed together, and means for causing the holders to unite their arms above the conductor-wire, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

WILLIAM R. WEAVER.

Attest:

A. S. LUDLOW, K. SMITH. 

